JULY 2, 2024

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Welcome to The Tilt, a twice-weekly newsletter for content entrepreneurs.

Fixes for Boredom and Burnout

You stare at the screen.

You are supposed to finish that new content product, send that invoice, and contact a prospective sponsor before the end of the day.

Instead, you surf the internet, scroll through social media on your phone, head to the kitchen, or take a walk – anything but what you’re supposed to be doing.

But you shouldn’t be actively avoiding your content business, right?! After all, you chose this path. You wanted to be a content entrepreneur. You wanted all this freedom and flexibility. You wanted to follow your passion.

Doing your own thing doesn’t mean you won’t face burnout, boredom, and sometimes a touch of ennui. But being a content entrepreneur does mean you need to find a solution or two to renew your motivation.

We asked your peers – fellow creators and entrepreneurs – how they rejuvenate or find that spark to keep going.

Breaks and vacations are a must, says Jean Gazis, a communications consultant.

​Michelle Raymond, host of the Social Media for B2B growth podcast, says, “Whenever I’ve lost the loving feeling, it’s always been because I haven’t prioritized sleep. My whole world gets harder, and I just can’t be bothered.

How did she get to that point? Overcommitting and not scheduling time to do things that break the monotony. But once she realizes the problem, the fix is simple.

She sets reminders on her phone about going to sleep. She carves out more time on her calendar to get her work done. “This is the easiest way for me to visualize what time I actually have free,” Michelle says. But that’s not all. She sometimes sneaks in a “cheeky afternoon nap.”

For others, the solution may be a long, early-morning walk. That’s a suggestion from Beth Kapes of Moving Words Into Action.

Even better? Beth says a great kickstarter (or is it “re-kickstarter?”) involves talking to others facing the same challenges.

“Having a chat/coffee with a trusted colleague always motivates me,” she says. And if you need a more immediate fix, start the day with a long, early-morning walk.

Entrepreneur Jess Hodkinson treats boredom and burnout separately. If you’re bored, she says, research and test ideas so you don’t get stuck in the play-it-safe zone. You can find inspiration by going to events or discussing ideas with people in your industry on platforms like LinkedIn.

But if you’re burned out, Jess says, take long breaks away from your content plans and look at them again with fresh eyes.

That can involve leaning into your unproductive side for a few hours, says Ashley Baker of Coastline Marketing.

“When I feel bored, burned out, or lacking motivation, I find solace in getting lost in the pages of a book. I’ll grab a new book and head outside for a few hours,” she says. “Usually, within a few chapters, my mind quiets, and I start to feel that creativity coming back just by glimpsing into another world.

“There's nothing better for me than traveling within the pages of a book to reignite my focus and inspiration.

​Stephanie Nicholls of Mirabilis Collective says she has been feeling burned out lately, but a beautiful message from a newsletter reader landed in her inbox and changed that.

“It reminded me of the reason why I started my organization and how we don’t always realize the impact that we’re making,” she says.

She now keeps a “lovely messages” file that she can visit whenever she needs a boost.

Stephanie shares a quote from Denzel Washington related to this: “So you never know who you touch. You never know how or when you'll have an impact or how important your example can be to someone else."

-Ann Gynn

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Entrepreneurs: Rhett and Link

Biz: Mythical Entertainment

Tilt: Comedy

Scene: YouTube – Rhett & Link (5.21M), YouTube – Good Mythical Morning (18.7M), Facebook (4.8M), TikTok (4.6M), Instagram (3.5M), X (920.2K), merch, membership​

Snack Bites:

• Rhett and Link met in the first grade when they bonded over a shared humor and creativity.
• About six years after graduating with engineering degrees, the duo united for a new YouTube channel. In their first video, they dropped a boulder into a dam.
• Since their early days, the comedic duo has been among the internet's most popular channels. Their Mythical Entertainment brand employs over 80 people.

Why we stan: Rhett and Link know who they are and what they want to do. Initially, they launched their YouTube channel to get into traditional Hollywood entertainment. But after two decades of building a content business, they’ve given up that goal and are doubling down on the “internetainment” their loyal audiences love.

-Leo Bonacci

​Read the Rhett and Link story.

Know a content creator who’s going full tilt? DM us. Or email tilt@thetilt.com.

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• Let’s talk at 12 p.m. US EDT Tuesday on Tilt Your Business, the weekly podcast hosted by Michelle and Ann.​
• ​It's Time for Your Content Collaboration (Content Inc.)
• ​Supreme Court Makes Nice with White House Over Disinformation (This Old Marketing)
• ​Your 7-Step Guide to Building an Online Bookstore (Publish & Prosper)
• Experience CEX 2024 from anywhere in the world! Purchase a Digital Pass today to receive instant, on-demand access to all recorded sessions for the next 12 months, allowing you to watch and rewatch at your convenience.

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